Edouaed taedy



(No Model.)

E. TARDY.

ATTAGHING ARMOR PLATES To vEssBLs.

Patented June 22, 1886.

No. 344,218l` .x IIIII UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEo EDOUARD TARDY, OE DOUvREs, CALvADOs, AssICNOR To SCHNEIDER Er COMPAGNIE, OE LE CREUZOT, sAONE-ET-LOIRE, FRANCE.

ATTACHING ARMOR-PLATES TO VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION farming, Dart of Letters Patent No. 344,218,1:1ated June 22, 1886.

Application tiled March 4, 1886. Serial No. 191,037. (No model.) Patented in France March 1R, 1576, No. [11,977; in Italy Septemher, 1876, No. 9,646, and in Austria December-2l, lSTG, No. .'r,68f.

To all whom it may concern:

13e it known that I, EDOUARD TARDY, of Douvres, Department of Calvados, in the Republic of France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Attaching Armor- Plates to Vessels, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention Consists in att-aching armorplates to vessels, forts, and other structures by means of bolts tapped into the side next the surface to be protected. VitlI this obj ect a suitable number of holes are formed in the plate, of small depth as compared with the thickness ofthe plate, and the walls of these holes are threaded to receive the ends of the bolts. In this way the holes for the attachingbolts do not pass clear through the plate, but only a short distance into the same, and consequently are a source of local weakness much less than where the holes are pierced through the whole thickness of the plate.

It has been known for some years that the fragments of steel armor-plates stop projee tiles almost or quite as well as the whole plates. It is important, therefore, to multiply the attachiugpoints, so t-hat the fragments of a plate when broken may remain in place and efficiently protect the surface covered thereby. For this reason itis desirable to eniploy the largest possible number of bolts of the new system. A like number ofthe ordinary bolts passing through the plates could not be used without considerably weakening the plates. rlhis construction relates to armor plates capable of practical use-i. c., plates made smooth on their inner surface and planed to correspond with the outline of vessels and fortifications.

It has been heretofore proposed to form an armor-plate with ribs or bosses on the inner surface containing threaded sockets for the bolts; but apart from the difficulty ofinaking plates with such projecting parts the scheme is impractical,and has never been adopted for several reaso11s-principally, because of the difficulty that would be experienced in Inaking such plates conform to and fit accurately upon the sides of a vessel. Moreover, it is desirable that the bolt should penetrate for a certain distance the body of the plate itself.

To accomplish the purposes of this invention by the use ofnumerous bolts,it would be necessary,with plates such as above indicated, (could they be successfully used at all,) to multiply the ribs or bosses, thereby increasing the difliculties pointed out.

Having prepared the holes in the posterior surface of the plate, as just described, divers arrangements are applicable to the bolts, of which one extremity is screwed into thc plate. 6o

VIn general a certain thickness ot' wood is introduced between the armor and the wall of the ship, turret, or fortification to bc protected, so that the elasticity of the wood may lessen theshocks ofthe projectiles. The bolts pass through the wooden mat and the rigid wall,and are fixed to the latter by a n ut or other suitable head. Under this head or nut are placed, first, (that is, next the head or uut,) a metal washer, and then one of rubber. Thus 7o a uniform pressure lengthwise of the bolt is secured, even when it is outof line or bent. ll'foreover, the interposition of an elastic substance lessens the shocks between the nut or bolt-head and the wall, and protects the end 7; of the bolt. The rubber washer is preferably placed in a metal cup, being confined between it and the metal washer, upon which the nut oi the head of the screw-bolt binds.

lt is very important that the end ofthe SO bolt which is tapped or screwed into the armor-plate should be of greater cross-section than the rest of the shank of the bolt. The reason for this is that at the point of engagement with the plate the bolt is subjected to the greatest strain from the lateral pressure, tending to separate the fragments of the plate, particularly when the projectile strikes at an angle far out of the normal. Beyond this point it is desirable, on the contrary, that the 9c bolt should be reduced, so that it can be bent or stretched throughout the greatest possible length, so as to prevent breaking at thc ends. To accomplish this object, it is not desired to taper the bolt toward the middle, so as to render it weakest at the middlepoint. On the contrary, the shank of the bolt should be of uniform diameter throughout, there being a shoulder or offset near the bolt ends. The bolt has, in fact, three differentthicknesses. 10c

The shankfis vof smallest diameter, the ends [.A

are larger, while the threaded part at the end which screws into the armor-plate is of still greater diameter.

The increase in diameter at the end .of the bolt which screws into the plate makes necessary a hole in t-he wall larger than the shank of the bolt. If the wall be submerged, it is desirable to prevent-the entrance of water around the bolt. This effect is obtained by means of washers of rubber or gutta-percha clamped by means of a tube surrounding the shank of the bolt. merged, the tube can be dispensed with, and the space around the bolt can be filled with hemp, wood, or other suitable material. In such walls or such parts of a wall it will be yfound in general advantageous to make the head integral-with the bolt in place of using a nut, in which case the clamping will be produced by the screwing of the bolts into the armor-plate. 1

The bolts should be of metal-iron or steel,a of the best quality, those of extra soft steel being the best. z y

Having explained the principle of the invention, what-is considered the best mode of applying said principlewill now be explained with the aid ofthe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specilication.

, f Figure l is a longitudinal section illustrating in detail one of the bolts, its accessories, and their application; Fig. 2, a similar view `of a modification; and Figs. 3 and 4 sectional vviews showinga fiat and a curved plate,1espectively, attached to a ship or fortification in accordance with the invention.

In all the figures, Ais the armor-plate. having smooth inner and outer surfaces; B, the wall ofthe ship o1' fortification; C, alining to said wall, and D the bolts. The outer ends ofthe bolts D are threaded, and are tapped -or screwed into the back of the arinorplate' A for a relatively short distance, so as to weaken the plato as little as possible, while vyet-giving sufficient hold to retain the plate or pieces ofa fracturedplate in position. The bolts pass through'the walll-andon the in- .sideare headed, boing provided with a nut, E, Figs. l and 3, 0r an ordinary head, F, Figs. 2'aud 4. Under the nut E or head F is f a metal washer, G, a rubber washer,I-I, and a metal cup, I. The shank oft-he bolt uniformly If the wall be not sub.

is reduced for nearlyits whole length, so that under a sufficient shock or strain it will stretch before the other parts of the bolt will break, while at the threaded part that enters the body of the plate A the bolt is thickened, as shown.

In Figs. l and 3 the shank or part in the wall-'B is surrounded by a sleeve, K, which fits the cylindrical portions at th'e ends of the shank, and a packing-ring, L, of gutta-p'ercha,

is placed in the space at the ends of the sleeve. When the nut E is tightened, the gatta-percha is compressed and fills the space perfectly. In Figs. 2 and 4 the reduced shank of the bolt is surrounded by a packing, M, of hemp or other suitable material.

It is evident that modilications may be made in the ldetailsof construction without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, and that parts of the invention may, if desired, be used without the others.

1,. The-.combination of thearmor-plate, the

wall, an attaching-bolt, a sleeve surrounding the same, and a packing-ring at the end of the sleeve, substantially as described.

. 2. In combination with a wall and arinore plate, a bolt having the threaded end thick- -ened andthe shank reduced, anda sleeve surrounding saidbolt, substantially as described.

' l 3. In combination with the armor-plate and the protected walls, theboltshaving reduced shanks of uniform diameter and serving to attach the armor-plate to said wall, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the armor-plate `and protected wall, of t-he bolt having a reduced shank and the sleeve surrounding the same, substantially as described.

y.5."Ihe combination, with the armor-plate and the wall, of the bolts passing through ythe wall and vtapped into said arnior-plate, the sleeves surrounding thebolt.s,.the packing rings at the ends of said sleeves, and the cups,

washers, and nuts at the inner ends of the bolts, substantially as described. l

In testimony whereof I have signed thisv ing witnesses.

. EQTARDY.

Witnesses:

-BGURs, E. LEMARQUIER.

vspecification in the presence of two subscribloo 

